Packing for pistons, etc.



Jan. 29, 1935.

S. M. GREENIDGE PACKING FOR PISTONS, ETC

Filed Aug. 5, .1932 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Y L bl. W I I 4 4 A ,d azzzael J'I. Qzzu'ye Jan. 29, 1935. s. M, GREENIDGE PACKING FOR PISTONS, ETC

3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Aug. 5, 1932 II Ill Patented Jan. 29, 1935 r v 5 v I UNITED STATES PATENT FF:ICE

' ,f. from I '1; I jrAcKmG FOR PISTONS; E'lO.

simian. Greenidge, Fort Worth, Tex Application August 5, 1932, Serial No. 627,66 I I 13 Claims (on. 309433) This invention relates generally to packings tion of an assembledpacking madeiromsegsuch as for pump pistons, engine pistons, stuffing ments illustrated inFigure :11;

boxes, etc., and has for itsprimary object to Figures 1 7,:1 8 and 19 are fragmentary plan provide an improved and more durable construcviews of packingmaterial before being bent into tion of packing which will be unaffected by shape, and provided with variously positioned 5 changes in temperature or by acids, alkalies or slits to provide progressively continuous expanother fluids, and will offer a greater amount sion. i

of abrasion resisting material to wearing of the Figure, 2Q is a fragmentary end view of a packing during prolonged use and to the eflect packing section in which portionsjof adjacent of solids which may come in contact with the segments of asection arearranged in overlapping 10 packing and the surface with which it cooperates. relation, H r I i II I A further object of the invention resides in Figures 21 and 22 are fragmentary end views the provisionof .a novel packing construction of packing sections in which corrugated and by means of which a more uniform and more fluted material are employed. I

continuous contact between the packing and the Figure 23 a fragmentary plan view of a 15 surface with which it cooperates is maintained packing section in which means are; employed with either reciprocating or rotary motion. i for limiting the extent of expansion of the formed Other objects andadvantages of the invention cup to a predetermined diameter. will be apparent from the following description Figure 24 is a' fragmentary plan view of'a when taken in connection with the accompanypacking elementjshowing variouslylshaped' slits 20 ing drawings, in which, I other thanon straight radiallines, 4 Figure l is a vertical sectional view through Figure25 isa sectional view through an as- .a packingincluding the novel features of the sembled packing in which beveled shoulders are construction. 7 I I employed asthe clamping means; v v 25 Figure 2 is a plan view of one of the packing More specificalI-mthe numeral i indicates a 25 elements before being bent to shape, cylinder or other mechanical element in which Figure 3 is a. similar view of one form of spring a packing is essential. the form shown, a which may be employed. I 1 v piston rod 2 is mounted'within thefcyl inder 1 Figure 4 is a perspective view of one form of and is provided with a reduced portion or reone of the cup-shaped elements. cos 3, in which the novel packingto de- 3o I Figure 5-isa plan view of the onstruction scribed is mounted. I I v v I shown in Figure 4, but before being bent into T e pa king mp i s ntially, threesomfinal shape. II I a rate elements, namely the packing proper, spring Figure 6 is a plan view ore. modified conmeans f maintaini g th packin a a st a struction of spring member, I a v coacting surface, and meansfor holding these 3-5 Figure 7 is a side elevational view of an asparts in their correct assembled relation. In sembled packing. embodying the cup -shaped eleth mb di n Shown Figures 28 d 3 the ments of Figures 4 and5. l packing material is composed of'a plurality of Figure 8 is a sectional view taken on line s-I-a metal s s I cs sections ar m from 40 of Figure W sheet metal and-are provided with. a central 4o Figure 9 is'a sectional view of a modifiedccnm ih of-fingers n n annu' struction in which the packing is 'stationary. lar portmn .umtmg." P t' Tm fingers 6 Figure is Similar. but i ill'iiitttt itt iittfifi fiefi Sitittlfi $11 p ifi i fi m i their fingers in staggered relation and the flange 45 figure 1S D View? n? pac portions 7 superposed and slipped onto the reelements for use in the constructlon shown m ducd portion a-oflthe piston mag I Figures 9 n 10,3115 While the packing section- 4 is shown as one Figure 12 is perspective View of the continuous circular piece of metal it will be k e nts of F ure 1 apparent tothose skilled in the metal art that 50 Flgures 13, 14 and 15 are plan Vlews of substantially the same result may be obtained by I r nfly p d metal shee'tswhich are Slitted elements made in a variety of different ways, a and then bent into forms similar to that-shown few of which will be described-hereinafter, and in Figure I it is intended that the disclosure of Figure 2 be 56 Figure 16 s a vertical section through a pormerely illustrative of one method of producing such sections. Moreover, the thickness of the material employed may be varied to suit the particular circumstances.

The reduced portion 3 of the piston rod provides a shoulder 8 spaced from the inner end of the rod and this shoulder forms a stop for a combined spacing element and spring mounting 9. This element 9 is in the form of a cylinder or a sleeve provided with a plurality of vertical slits atfit'sfupperzehd to prdvide tongueswhich may bebent outwardly to form-knuckles 10 for supporting a spring 11. The spring is indicated in Figure 3 as formed of a continuous piece of a are intended to be included within wire bent to provide a circular portion 1 2-a nd a plurality oi spring fingers 13. The knuckles 10 are engaged about the circular portion 12- of tended downwardly to engage the inner face of the packing and force the same against the-sun face of the cylinder 1.

The several elements of; the assemblage are'secured in fixed relation by a 'washer 14-and lock nuts 15-and16- which forcethe spacingjelement 9 against theshoulder 8' of' the 'piston rod; and also clamp the flanges 7 of the packing elements against'the-lower end 'ofthe'spacer It will be understood of course that while only three of the packing elements 4 are shown as composingthe packing of Figure 1, this number may be increased as desired to suit'circumstances, and may be formed of various thicknesses of metalf Moreover; the; contiguous fingers of the packingsections may be caused; to overlap or remain entirely separate as may be found desirable for the particularinstallation.

In Figure 6 is shown a modified construction of the" spring member 11. In this latter form of construction the spring fingers 1'? are made irom a sheet of spring metal, the upper ends of the fingers being integrally connected to-a band portion 18 which is bent into circular form when the fingers, are'mounted in cooperative relation with the packing "material. The upper edge 18, (Figure 6) may be'tu'rned inwardly tofor'm'a shoulderpr fiange whichwill fit over the spacing element 9 and be' secured against the shoulder 8 of thepiston when the lock-nuts are set.

I A modified iormof packing and assemblage is disclosed in, Figures 4, 5, '7 and 8. In this modified-construction the spacing member '9, thepacking elements 4, the spring 13, and the securing elements 14, 15 and. 16 are identical'with the elements shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3.- "In addition to these elements, however, inner and outer cup-shapedelements are employed for limiting the expansionof the packing proper. This limitation of the diameter of the packing is" especiallyuseful in that it facilitates removal of the packing from deepwell pumps by preventing the packing from expanding into contact with the tva'lls' of the pipe or other mechanisms. One of the cup shaped elements is *showriinset-up condition in Figure 4 and in fiat condition in Figure 5. These blanks may be made from sheet metal to provide a' central opening 19; an annixl-arbahd 20 and radial extensions 21. The extensions 21 are providedwith longitudinal flanges '23 formed by bending the marginal edges along the lines22} Twoof these sections are'preferably nested together with' the extensions of one section bridging the spaces between the extensionsof theother section. The flanges-23 of one section may be turned inwardly and those of the other section turned outwardly 'so that they will interlock as' indicated in Figure 4.

In lieu of bending the flanges 23 in the manner just described, they may be bent as shown in the inner cup of Figures 7 and 8. In this modified construction of cup one longitudinal edge of each extension may be turned inwardly and the other longitudinal edge turned outwardly so as to provide an interlocking connection between adjacent extensions.

These joints between the cup sections allow a limited expansionjof the cupsections and thus control the extent of expansion-of the interposed packing. A Wide variety of alternate forms of cup construction will of course be apparent and a I the scope of the" present" invention. v The constructions shown in Figures 9, 10, 11 and 12aresubstantially a reversal of the disclosure of'Figure'sl, 2 and 3 in that the packing is stationary'and is spring-pressed inwardly against a movable member. In Figure 9 the outer casing, which is indicated by the numeral 30, is provided with 'a compartment 31in which the packing assemblage-is-rnounted.' The numeral 32 indicates eithera reciprocating or rotating rod with whichthe packing cooperates.

The packingelements 33* (Figures 11 and 12) are 'composed of a pluralityof individual fingers provided with out-turned-fianges34 by means of which the fingers are clamped, or otherwise secured, in position; A plurality of series of the compress the same against; the movable element 32. In this connection it is'to' be noted that the construction in addition to" its function as a packing, also serves as a bearing member for the element 32. While individual fingers are disclosed as forming the'packing -in this form=of the invention it will be understood; that other forms of packing similar to those shown in Figuresl and 7 may be employed. 1

In the form of the invention shown in Figure 10 the same casing30 and compartmentSl are indicated; but the shoulder 40 isspaced only a slight "distanceiromthe-operative end of the clamping nut 36. By thus locating the shoulder 40, only a short spacingsleeve 41 is required and the springs 42 are mounted so as to 'extend inthe same directiorra's the packing'fingers 33. This construction,as well as that shown inFigure 9, is useful for both a rotary shaftand a reciprocating shaft and also serves asa bearing for the shaft.

On sheet three of the drawings are depicted a variety of difierentforms of 'packing' which may be employed in lieu of the structures disclosed in Figures 1 to 12, inclusive. .Forinstance, in Figures 13, 14 and 15. are disclosed packing elements 50; 51 and 52,.respectively. .The packings .50 and when the sections aretshapedhp mto final form.

In Figure 16, the numeral'58 indicates. a pack.- ing assembly comprised of a-pluralityof fingerlike sections such asgshown at -33,-in1Figure 11. In. this assembly,;however, the flanges 34 are turned inwardly .insteadof outwardly ,(asshown in Figures 9 and IQ), but, maybeolampedtogether in the usualway.v Springs 59 .areemployed for pressing the packing against the surface with which the packing cooperates.

Figures 17, 18 and-l9 disclose various modified constructions of packings 60, 61 and 62, respectively, in which the several parts composing a single packing section are slitted as indicated at 63, 64 and 65. By means of these slits the wearing away of the packing elements causes the slits to open up and permit an easier expansion of the packing segments; and furthermore the conformability of the packing to the coacting surface is greatly improved. It will of course be apparent that an almost infinite variety of slits may be employed for accomplishing the desired end.

In Figure 20 the fingers of the packing section 66 are shown as overlapping each other, as for instance, the fingers 5'7 of the packing element of Figure 14.

Figures 21 and 22 show packing elements 67 and 68, respectively, formed of corrugated and fluted material. These constructions are more especially useful where high pressures are to be encountered, as for instance, in deep wells. These packings may be made up from forms such as shown in Figure 2 or the like, and the corrugations or flutes provide suitable reinforcement to withstand the relatively high pressures to which the packings may be subjected.

In Figure 23 is disclosed a portion of a packing section 69 in which each of the fingers '70 has one longitudinal edge provided with slots 71 and the other edge with corresponding tongues 72. When this form of the invention is bent up into shape the lugs or tongues of one finger are engaged in the corresponding slots of an adjoining finger, and thus serve to limit the extent of expansion of the packing in a manner similar to that shown in Figures 4, 5, 6 and '7. Obviously other forms of interlocking means could readily be provided.

Figure 24 shows a packing element '73 of disclike form, partly broken away, in which substantially radial slits of varying configuration, such as indicated at '74, '75, '76, 7'7 and '78, may be employed in lieu of the straight line slits of Figure 14, etc. In Figure 25 the sleeve or cylinder 8Q which cooperates with the washer 81 in clamping the packing 82 has its lower end beveled as indicated at 83. Such beveled or rounded construction may be employed, if desired, in lieu of the squared end shown on sleeve or cylinder 9 of Figure 1.

In the operation of the devices described herein it will be apparent that the nested packing elements will be automatically arranged with their outer edges in beveled or wedge-shaped formation to conform to and obtain an intimate contact with the cooperating surface. Moreover the packing will be automatically and progressively expanded to compensate for wear, although undue expansion such as would hamper the withdrawal of the packing from its surrounding mechanism is avoided. The packing is strong and durable, and

, unaffected by temperature changes, acids, alkadisclosed hereinxit willbe evidezittheltmany variationsmay be e'mbodiedin the packing material as well as in the inner and outer cup-shaped :membersand it isintended that all such variations be included within the scope of the ap cup-shaped elements,'means on said elements for limitingthe '-extent' :0! expansion thereof, and

packing elements disposed between the walls of said cups.

2. A packing including a pair of nested cupshaped elements, composed of a plurality of laterally movable sections, interlocking flanges connecting the edges of adjoining sections to limit the outward movement thereof, and metallic packing disposed between the walls of said cups.

3. A packing including a plurality of nested metallic packing elements formed from sheet metal to provide a plurality of fingers, inner and outer expansible cup-shaped elements between the walls of which the packing elements are disposed, and means forming a part of said elements for limiting the extent of expansion.

4. A packing including a plurality of nested metallic packing elements formed from sheet metal to provide a plurality of fingers, inner and outer expansible cup-shaped elements between the walls of which the packing elements are disposed, said walls composed of laterally movable sections, and means on the sections for limiting the extent of expansive movement of said elements.

5. A packing including a pair of expansible cup-shaped elements, packing material disposed between the walls of said cup-shaped elements, spring means for expanding said elements and packing material, and means for limiting the extent of expansion.

6. A packing including a pair of expansible cup-shaped elements, packing material disposed betweenthe walls of said cup-shaped elements, spring means for expanding said elements and packing, and means forming an integral part of the cup-shaped elements to limit the extent of expansion.

7. In a device of the class described a member to be packed, said member provided with an annular recess, a spacing sleeve in said recess, springs secured by one end of the spacing sleeve, packing material secured at the other end of the sleeve, said springs forcing the packing into engagement with a cooperating surface.

8. In a device of the class described a member to be packed, said member provided with an annular-recess, an expansible packing having its base mounted in the recess, a spring cooperating with said packing and having its base mounted in the recess, a spacing member between the packing and spring, and means for clamping the parts in position.

9. In a device of the class described a member, to be packed, said member provided with an annular recess to form a shoulder, an expansible packing having its base mounted in the recess, a spring cooperating with said packing and having its base mounted in the recess, a spacing member between the packing and spring, and means for securing said parts in position.

10. In a device of the class described a member to be packed, said member provided with an annular recess to form a shoulder, an expansible packing having its base mounted at one end of the recess, a spring cooperating with said pack- 12. Anfi expansible :packmg eificludingi'lar .pliirality of nested metallicisecti'ons'; each comprising a plurality cf finger: portionsprovided with slits r 13. A'paclging'includingaculp shapedelement formed of a plurality; 01'; dutwardlymovable'sections and mea sn the edges "of-the sections to limit the extent of outward movement. 

